Their campaign hanging by a thread, Kolkata Knight Riders will have no option but to go all out against an already-eliminated Mumbai Indians in a crucial IPL match, here on Wednesday.
A defeat will officially end KKR's playoff hopes for the second successive season under Ajinkya Rahane after their disappointing eighth-place finish in 2025, a year after lifting the title under Shreyas Iyer.
Even a win, however, may not be enough for the Rahane-led side as KKR's fate will still depend on Punjab Kings' away match against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday.
If Punjab win that game, KKR's final league fixture against Delhi Capitals here on Sunday will become a dead rubber.
As things stand, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already sealed playoff berths, while Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians are out of contention.
That leaves five teams -- Punjab Kings (13 points), Rajasthan Royals (12), Chennai Super Kings (12), Delhi Capitals (12) and Kolkata Knight Riders (11) -- battling for the lone remaining playoff spot.
KKR playoffs chance:
KKR face one of the toughest playoff qualification paths among the remaining contenders. Their final two league matches are both at home — against Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.
Currently on 11 points from 12 matches, KKR must win both fixtures to reach 15 points and stay in the playoff race. But even that may not be enough, as their qualification hopes also hinge on several other results falling perfectly into place.
The ideal scenario for KKR would be:
- Beat MI
- Beat DC
- Gujarat Titans defeat Chennai Super Kings
- Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings
- Rajasthan Royals lose to MI
If those outcomes align, KKR could squeeze into the playoffs with 15 points.
However, the concern for KKR is net run rate. Their NRR remains slightly negative, meaning narrow wins may not be enough — especially if RR finish on 16 points or PBKS also end on 15 with a superior NRR. A convincing victory over MI could therefore prove crucial before their final clash against DC.
One factor working in KKR’s favour is the schedule. They play before RR take on MI, allowing KKR to build pressure and potentially force RR into a virtual knockout situation.
IPL 2026 points table
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | NRR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | +1.065 | 18 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | +0.400 | 16 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | +0.350 | 16 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | +0.083 | 14 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | +0.227 | 13 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | -0.016 | 12 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | -0.871 | 12 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | -0.038 | 11 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | -0.504 | 8 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | -0.702 | 8 |
